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Australia Could Finally Get R18+ Games
angry tapir writes "Australia may finally get an adults only, R18+ classification for computer games, with the federal government releasing a discussion paper summarizing the key arguments for and against an R18+ classification. Submissions are currently being sought from the community on whether the Australian National Classification Scheme should include an R18+ category for computer and video games. In the past the board responsible for classifying games and movies has banned some titles outright because of the lack of an adults only classification — Aliens Vs. Predator is just the most recent in a long line. The Attorney-General's report on the issue is available online."
...is when the people give one state AG the power to frustrate the wishes of all the other state AG's and the people who pay his wages.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Atkinson
This person has been the sole reason why Australia doesn't have a R18+ rating, and I highly doubt a discussion paper will change his mind.
Telling us doesn't do much; on the other hand, the Government has opened up a public consultation on the matter, so telling them might make things happen. Just make sure you keep it reasonable and rational, or you might end up being counter-productive.
The Federal Government plans to implement mandatory ISP filtering for "refused classification" websites, it was .
The government also released the report on the ISP filtering pilot, which was provided to the government by Enex Testlab in October, detailing the results of the blocking accuracy and performance of the filters.
Senator Conroy announced the new initiatives in a curiously scheduled press conference, with journalists only being notified 90 minutes prior to the start of proceedings.
"The Government will introduce legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Services Act to require all ISPs to block RC-rated material hosted on overseas servers", said the announcement.
"RC-rated material includes child sex abuse content, bestiality, sexual violence including rape, and the detailed instruction of crime or drug use.
"The report into the pilot trial of ISP-level filtering demonstrates that blocking RC-rated material can be done with 100% accuracy and negligible impact on internet speed", said Conroy.
Conroy acknowledged that the filter would only block "inadvertent" exposure to R/C content, and the pilot report bluntly states that any technically competent user could circumvent the filtering.
The report also found that the filters on average "over-blocked" 3.4% of sites that were not intended to be filtered, and that high volume sites would likely cause the filters to fail.
Initial reactions to the pilot report have been mixed, with participating ISPs praising the results (in prepared press releases), while others such as Electronic Frontiers Australia stating that it "brings more questions than answers".
The DBCDE website is unavailable due to demand for the report, which we have mirrored here.
In Soviet Russia the insensitive clod is YOU!
It doesn't matter if Michael Atkinson wins his seat of Croydon. It has to be a Labor government in South Australia or he will no longer be Attorney General.
It will be a Liberal party member who becomes Attorney General, so I'd be lobbying them.
Hooray, we go forward in one direction and backwards in another direction.
Today it was announced that the report on mandatory web filtering was a success, and so the government will be going ahead with the implementation of the Great Firewall of China.
http://whirlpool.net.au/news/?id=1852
This is my footer. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
you can still purchase them online and legally own and play them
Not true. From this post in the last discussion on the topic:
From the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995
10.99:
level 2 prohibited material means:
(a) a publication, film or computer game classified RC; or
(b) an unclassified publication, film or computer game that contains material that would be likely to cause it to be classified RC.
10.102:
A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person has possession or control of material; and
(b) the material is level 2 prohibited material; and
(c) the material is in a prescribed area.
Penalty: 100 penalty units.
Unfortunately we can have all the consultation we want - as long as Michael Atkinson (think Jack Thompson with a political office) is Attorney-General of South Australia he will veto it.
As it stands, the decision needs to be unanimous amongst all the states - support for an R18+ rating seems to hover around 90% in most polls, but without the support of this one idiot, nothing is ever going to change.
Its about time the Australian government realized that games are not just for kids anymore.
This has nothing to do with the government's opinion as a whole.
Any changes to the film and literature classification system must be approved unanimously by the Attorney-Generals. Michael Atkinson (AG of South Australia) is the only one against the introduction of an R18+ rating. His arguments are essentially "think of the children"-based. He fully understands the "games are not just for kids anymore" argument but is on a personal crusade to protect the country from anything he sees as bad for children. He will never change his opinion because it would make him look weak. Nothing will happen unless his ability to veto the decision is revoked.
It almost makes me ashamed to live in the same state as him.
Homonyms are fun!
You're driving your car, but they're riding their bikes there.
Comment removed based on user account deletion
If you doubt me then point to where Conroy has said a compulsory filter is a good idea.
Ahem.
"The Communications Minister, Stephen Conroy, said today he would introduce legislation just before next year's elections to force ISPs to block a blacklist of "refused classification" (RC) websites for all Australian internet users."
That conclusive enough for you? :(
The "none of the above" option is called turning up at a voting station, getting your name crossed off, and not voting; last I checked, this was legal.
And failing that, take your voting slip, leave it blank, and put it in the voting booth. You've fulfilled your obligation to vote, without voting for any candidate. While I think this is incredibly stupid, you can do it, so what are you complaining about?
A person commits an offence if: (a) the person has possession or control of material; and (b) the material is level 2 prohibited material; and (c) the material is in a prescribed area. Penalty: 100 penalty units.
Did you even read what you posted? A person commits an offence only if the material is in a prescribed area. From the same document:
And in the Northern Territory National Emergency Response Act 2007:
There may be other legislation making the possession or purchase of RC materials an offence, but the above only applies to specific areas of the Northern Territory subject to the emergency intervention, not the vast majority of the Australian population.
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!
The number of 16 year-olds who can get a PS3 to play an illegally downloaded game, while large
No it isn't. The number is zero. There is no piracy on the PS3. The 360 and the Wii, yes, a huge piracy scene is a large influence on people buying the consoles. But not the PS3. That devices is still very well locked away to game copies.